Integrated digital active phased array antenna and wingtip collision avoidance system

Abstract

An integrated slot waveguide antenna array for a radar system. The antenna array may include substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) elements, transmit, receive and processing electronics in a lightweight, low-cost, highly integrated package. The combination of antenna layout, specific dimensions of SIW features, including vias, terminal edges and slot placement may allow an efficient transmit and receive radar pattern as well as consistent, reliable and low cost manufacturing.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A slot waveguide antenna array system comprising:
 a multi-layer circuit board comprising:
 a plurality of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) elements, wherein each SIW element of the plurality of SIW elements is at least one of a transmitter SIW element or a receiver SIW element and each receiver SIW element defines a receiver channel of the slot waveguide antenna array system; 
 at least one signal layer comprising:
 at least one receiver (Rx) mixer element; 
 a power divider element, wherein the power divider element connects a local oscillator (LO) signal to the at least one receiver Rx mixer element; 
 wherein each receiver SIW element of the plurality of SIW elements connects to an input of the at least one Rx mixer element; and 
 
 at least one circuit layer comprising:
 a plurality of hardware components; 
 a plurality of communication paths, wherein at least one communication path connects an output of the receiver Rx mixer element to at least one of the plurality of hardware components. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The slot waveguide antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the transmitter SIW elements of the plurality of SIW elements comprises a slot waveguide radar transmitter antenna. 
     
     
       3. The slot waveguide antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the SIW elements of the plurality of SIW elements comprises a slot waveguide radar receiver antenna. 
     
     
       4. The slot waveguide antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein an SIW element of the plurality of SIW elements comprises a plurality of SIW layers and wherein a first SIW layer of the plurality of SIW layers is configured to stack substantially vertically on a second SIW layer of the plurality of SIW layers. 
     
     
       5. The slot waveguide antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein the power divider element is implemented on a metal layer of the multi-layer circuit board.